Coronavirus Testing Capacity Increasing At Arlington Heights Site

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — Amid a huge surge in new coronavirus and "soaring" demand for tests, public health officials are set to expand the capacity at Illinois’ three most-visited testing sites, including its location in Arlington Heights, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said last week.

“It should come as no surprise, given our current rates of spread, that we’re now seeing a soaring demand for tests across the state,” Pritzker said.

7 New Deaths, 473 Coronavirus Cases Reported In Arlington Heights

The Illinois Department of Public Health started making more tests available this past weekend at its site near Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights, as well as at its testing sties in Auorora and Harwood Heights, Pritzker said.

The IDPH runs 11 coronavirus testing sites across the state, and many are being forced to close early due to a huge boom in demand, Pritzker said. That demand is expected to continue growing with Thanksgiving less than two weeks away.

"We continue to build on our testing capability, but as always, we are limited by the speed at which existing public and private lab capacity can grow and by the physical layouts of these drive-thru locations," Pritzker said. "Still, we intend to remain among the best in the nation in testing."

‘Critical Need’ For COVID-19 Survivors’ Plasma Deepens Amid Surge

Pritzker did not specify how many more tests would be made available at the state’s testing sites, and IDPH representatives did not respond Friday to Patch’s request for details.

Patch Editor Jason Addy contributed to this report.

Related:
Free Coronavirus Testing Opens At Arlington Heights Racetrack